Can-opener.



L. LAWRIE.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1918.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

snow U601 L Z any" w rrno sra'rns ATENT ()FFICE.

CAN-OPENER.

Application filed May 17, 1918.

of Indiana, have invented Certain new and.

useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and

' I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, uch as will enable others skilled. in the art t which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to'improvements in can openers and has special reference to that class of can openers which describe a circular cut in the top of a can, near the edge thereof.

An important object of this invention is to provide a can opener of the character described adapted to be quickly and conveniently applied to a can, said can opener comprising a body portion carrying a rotatable carriage, which carriage carries the cutting element of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is positive in its operation, eXpedi tious in use and capable of being operated with but little possibility of injury to the hands.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is neat in appearance, reliable in use and cheap to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which by virtue of the rotatable carriage, above mentioned, will effectively perform its function with a minimum exertion of effort on the part of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved can opener, showing the same applied to a can,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken on line 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. t is a side elevation of the cutting element. showing the same in use, and

Fig. 5 is a section taken through the op- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 10,1918- Serial No. 235,181.

crating handle, showing the cutting element slidably arranged thereon.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a can having a metallic top 11.

My invention comprises a grip l2 encircling the upper portion of the can forthe greater portion thereof and carrying handles Vertical bars 14 spaced about and extending from-the grip 12 are connectcd with and support an annular flange 1 arranged on the top 11 as shown in Fig. 1. An annular recess 16 formed in the annular flange 15 is adapted for the reception ofa rotatable carriage 17. The rotatable carriage 17 has connected therewith, rods 18, which span the top 11 and are spaced therefrom. The rods 18 intersect each other intermediate their ends. Upstanding apertured car 19 secured to the rods '18 at their point of intersection are adapted for the reception of a lever 20 having its forward end portion apertured for the reception of a pin 21 extending therethrough and through the apertures of the upstanding ears 19. thus effecting a pivotal connection for the lever 20. A handle 22 is formed on the outer portion of the lever 20. Arranged on the forward end of the lever 20 and slidably mounted thereon is a sleeve 23 carrying a cutting element 24, said sleeve being adapted to be retained in a desired position by a set screw 25.

The operation of my improved can opener is as follows:

The device is first applied to a can as shown in Fig. 2 and to hold the device securely in position, the handles 13 may be firmly gripped. The cutting element 2% is now positioned on the lever 20 at the desired place with due respect to the size of the opening it is desired to obtain in the top 11. It will be obvious that inserting the cutting element 24 in the top 11 and effecting a rotary movement thereof, a circular cut Will be described in the top. \Vith reference to Fig. 4, it will be obvious that with the rotation of the cutting element 24, the carriage 17 will rotate also, thus effecting the more even and expeditious cutting and opening of the top 11.

While I have shown and described the preferred. embodiment of my invention, it is understood that I may make such minor changes and arragement and construction i :of parts as will remain within the spirit I of the invention and the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A -can opener compr sing, a gripping device for the can, said gripping device lee-f mg adapted to be arranged on the can at a point spaced'from the top thereof; vertical rods extending from the gripping device to a point adjacent the top of the can; an annular flange arranged on the top and connected to said vertical rods; said annular flange have an interiorly'rec'essed bortion;

a'carriage rotatably arranged on the annular flange and extendmg into the recessed portion thereof; cross rods arranged on the rotatable carriage; a lever pivotally secured to the cross rods at the point of their intersectioma cutting element slidably arranged on the lever and adapted to engage the top to be opened; and means carried by the cutting element to retain the cutting annular flange and extending into the an"- nularrecess; cross rods traversing the top ofthe can and spaced therefrom; said cross rods intersecting each other intermediate their ends; upstanding apertured ears connected to the cross rods at the point of their intersection; a lever pivotally connected with the upstanding apertured ears; and a cutting element slidably arrangedon the lever and adapted to describe a circular cut in the top ofthe can, said carriage being adapted to partake of a. rotary movement with the cutting element. p y

3. A can opener comprising, an annular flange arranged on the top of a can; a carriage rotatably arranged on the annular flange; cross rods traversing the top of the can and spaced therefrom, said cross rods being adapted to have'thei'r ends connected aflix my signature with the rotatable carriage and have their i 

